In a Facebook video message, Thames Valley Police Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Ross said: “I am profoundly sorry for the treatment of the Downes family over the weekend, in particular the level of support, the level of compassion, the lack of information and communication that we afforded them, and in particular Mr and Mrs Downes and Ellis’s two sisters.

“This fell far below the standards that we would expect from our staff and I apologise for that.”

Image copyrightDownes family

Image caption
Ellis Downes disappeared under the water while playing with friends in Culham

Replying on her own Facebook page Alex Downes said she was “glad that the police made the first step by admitting they had done us wrong by referring themselves to the IPCC”.

She added: “All we want now is for things to change about the way [Thames Valley Police] handle operations so that we can prevent this happening again in the future.”

Ellis’ father Darren Downes said he believed “a lost dog” would have got better treatment than his missing son.

Mr Downes said on the evening his son went missing his family sat for “hours and hours” without any contact from the police.